Forest Medicine

In my role as forest steward here at the Institute, I have the unique opportunity to spend many hours per day on the trails and sometimes deep in the forest. Over time I have come to know the forest in a much more intimate way, noting favorite trees, mossy nooks, and areas where raven and barred owl frequent. On days when I can slow down and open my awareness, more of this rich environment is revealed to my senses.
What casually looks like rough bark on a rotting alder turns out to be turkey tail mushroom in full flush, the entire surface a scaly mass of fruiting bodies! 
I am quite familiar with this medicinal fungi and make decoctions which produce a pleasant earthy flavored tea.

Turkey tail has been used by humans for millennia and it's medicinal properties are known to support the immune system, gut microbiome, and as a complimentary treatment for some cancers. While turkey tail is abundant in our area and fairly easy to identify, it should only be harvested in a respectful manner and by those who can identify it with absolute certainty. In my practice of wildcrafting, I'll spend time with the plant or fungi and develop a relationship with that being before deciding to harvest. I believe that this part of the process, getting to know these sentient beings in a deeper way is the most healing for mind and body. The forest community is so interconnected, with species thriving and coexisting alongside one another, many in symbiosis with their neighbors.

What a valuable lesson for the human community at this time!

( Remember that prior permission is required when harvesting
on Whidbey Institute property.)